Cowley Road works, the charity that runs Cowley Road Carnival, is seeking expressions of interest from experienced creative facilitators and project managers with an enthusiasm for carnival arts, experience in developing exciting training programs for artists and the energy/vision to really push a team of 10 trainees to imagine and create processional work for this year’s carnival theme of Space is the place

As the leader of the Rocket Project: Carnival Arts Training program you will recruit and train 10 new and emerging artists from Oxford to gain experience working with community groups creating Carnival costumes and structures over the course of 3 months. The course will be open to 18-25 year olds from a range of backgrounds and applicants will need to show that they have at least 2 years previous training or have worked within a visual, not Performance, arts based background. As part of a wider project, looking to break down the barriers for people with conditions and impairments engaging in carnival arts, applicants with conditions and impairments and/or from BAME backgrounds will be encouraged to apply to take part in this inclusive project.

We are looking for a Project Lead who has experience working in the community arts sector, with particular experience and skills for working in schools, vulnerable people and those with conditions and impairments.

At this stage we are solely looking for expressions of interest as we await the outcome of a funding bid to Arts Council England.

Rough outline of the role of lead artist/Project manager
The Lead artist will oversee all elements of the course, including
· Work with the Carnival Creative producer to design an exciting and interesting training course to include masterclasses by visiting artists and practitioners,
· Mentoring and training up to 10 applicants in good practice when working with schools and vulnerable people
· Inspiring the trainees, to use their newly acquired skills to create pieces inspired by this year’s carnival theme Space is the Place, for the carnival procession.
· Monitoring the levels of artistry, and helping the trainees to understand how to create the best pieces that they can in the time given at the schools.
· Use the materials budget to ensure that each pair of artists working with the schools has the best possible outcome.
· Securing venues for the different elements of the course
· Being the contact for all venues, trainees and visiting artists
· Hosting the visiting Artists
· Organise transport if needed, to and from Carnival
· Work with the trainees and community groups to document the work and processes achieved.
· Be part of the Rocket project evaluation process.

Please note this opportunity is very much subject to funding, as soon as we know the outcome of our application we will be in touch with applicants for more information and suitable dates for interviews.

Once funding has been received and the position filled, discussions as to the exact content of the course and what can be attained in the time frame, will be had between the successful applicant and the Creative producer of Carnival. CRW has already provisionally engaged the services of some potential visiting artists with experience in both carnival arts and working with community groups.

The fee for this position is £2800,

Please click on the link below to fill in the Expression of interest form.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sHE4FbO...

Any questions please contact Anya Fox artistic_producer@cowleyroadworks.org